How can I have parental rights relinquished from my wife’s daughter’s deadbeat biological father?

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How can I have parental rights relinquished from my wife’s daughter’s deadbeat biological father?

I want to adopt my wife’s daughter from a previous relationship. However, the bio-father signed the birth certificate. He’s a complete deadbeat, doing the bare minimum with my wife’s daughter, which is stopping me from adopting her, and he’s refusing to relinquish his parental rights.Is there a way that I can have his rights relinquished? Also, I’m a Marine so I’m not sure if there’s a way through that either?

Asked on August 3, 2012 under Family Law, West Virginia

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

If the father of your wife's daughter is unwilling to relinquish his parental rights so that you can adopt the child, there is legally nothing that you can do to force the issue under the laws of all states in this county. Under the law, a court cannot strip a parent of his or her parental rights unilaterally.


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